Imports of Organic Corn and Soybeans Topped $1.5 Billion Since 2012

America’s farmers lost out on over $1.5 billion in sales of organic soybeans and corn between 2012 and 2017, according to agricultural trade data released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Whether you’re a farmer and you’ve noticed the higher price premiums that you can fetch for growing organic commodities, or you’re a consumer and you’ve seen more organic offerings in the supermarket, you’ve likely noticed the rapid growth of the organic industry over the past two decades.

Organic food accounts for more than 5 percent of total U.S. food sales and consumer demand for organic continues to grow. Despite this growth, less than 1 percent of the nation’s farmland is farmed organically.

The gap between supply and demand means that many American organic food companies, retailers, and even some livestock producers must turn to imports to meet the growing demand for organic staples that could be grown in the U.S.

Between 2012 and 2017, the U.S. imported over $1 billion worth of organic soybeans. This happened despite our standing as the global leader in overall soybean production. For comparison, in 2016, the U.S. imported $250 million worth of organic soybeans, while producing only $78.5 million worth.